The second edition of the National Cultural Heritage Conference took place at Hotel Africana on Tuesday with various participants taking part and recreating various folk customs and traditions.
The conference was organised under the theme: “Culture as a Tool for Empowering Communities and Future Generations” to commemorate the African World Heritage and also as a precursor to the celebration of International Museum Day annually.
The organisers recognized that cultural heritage is not simply a matter of heritage or memory, but a vital pillar for sustainable development, social cohesion, and national identity.
The Minister of Tourism’s remarks were delivered by Geoffrey Sseremba, the undersecretary at the Ministry, who urged the public to pause, reflect, and re-centre culture not as an accessory to development but as its very foundation.
“Uganda’s National Development Plan IV (NDP IV) places a renewed emphasis on people-centred development, innovation, and transformation. And in that framework, culture is no longer viewed as a peripheral element of national development it is now acknowledged as a critical enabler,” he said.
In addition, the Minister explained that NDP IV recognizes that Uganda’s rich cultural diversity cancontribute directly to: Community resilience and social inclusion, Tourism and creative industry growth, and Civic engagement and youth empowerment.
He further highlighted that the government emphasizes the mobilization and mindset change needed to strengthen national identity, uphold cultural values, and promote behavioural change through indigenous knowledge systems.
“Therefore, this conference aligns squarely with national priorities and helps operationalize NDP IV’s vision of a culturally grounded, inclusive, and empowered Uganda.”
According to Uganda’s National Tourism Policy, cultural heritage is not only a heritage to be preserved but is a product to be experienced and shared.
Cultural tourism offers an enormous opportunity to empower local communities, create employment, and promote sustainable economicdevelopment. From traditional music and dance to crafts, oral traditions, cuisine, and festivals Uganda has a wealth of cultural expressions that, if harnessed well, can place our communities at the centre of national prosperity.
The Minister, therefore, challenged participants, government agencies, cultural institutions, community leaders, educators, artists, and development partners to treat cultural heritage not as a luxury but as a necessity.
“Cultural heritage is not a thing of the past. It is a living, breathing force that must guide our future. When cultural heritage is empowered, communities are strengthened, and When communities are strengthened, nations aretransformed. Let us walk together guided by the wisdom of our heritage towards a prosperous Uganda, united, and proudly rooted in its cultural soul,” he concluded.
During the same engagement, Jacqueline Nyiracyiza Besigye, the acting commissioner for museums and monuments at the Ministry of Tourism, encouraged the public to join the Ministry as the country commemorates International Museum Day in Kabale Municipality (Kigezi region) from 16th – 18th May 2025.
“I welcome the public to join the president of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who will be the chief guest as we celebrate International Museum Day and as we create more awareness about the conservation of our cultural heritage in the Kigezi region,” she said.
The Former Chief Justice, James Ogola, emphasized the role of culture as a tool for empowering communities and future generations, saying “We can use culture as a tool to empower our people and connect with the future generations of this country.”
The Second National Cultural Heritage Conference reaffirmed the central role of cultural heritage in guiding Uganda’s development trajectory. By embracing cultural values and practices, Uganda can navigate contemporary challenges while preserving its unique identity, ensuring a harmonious and prosperous future for all its citizens.
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